Mechanism for feeding filled cans to closing machines



'M. M. SEDWICK MECHANISM FOR FEEDING FILLED CANS TO CLOSING MACHINES May 17, 1927. 1,628,919

Filed Jail. 11. 1924 s Sheets-Sheet 1 y M. M. SEDWICK MECHANISM FOR FEEDING FILLED CANS TO CLOSING MACHINES Filed Jan. 11. 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 mww l\ rlllulll 1 nmu :1 I I.

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M. M. SEDWICK MECHANISM FOR FEEDING FILLED CANS TO CLOSING MACHINES Filed Jan. 11. 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 17, 1927.

PATENT FFlCE.--

' UNITED STATES MATTHEW M. SEDWIGK, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO ENTAL.

. CAN COMPANY, IN 0., OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION 01' NEW YORK.

mncnamsir roa jrnnnme FILLED cans 'ro cnosme mcnnms.

Application filed January 11, 1924. Serial l lo. 685,588.

The invention relatesto new and useful improvements inv feeding mechanisms for feeding filled cans to a closing machine, and more particularly a feeding mechanism 5 for delivering the filled cans continuously and in succession one after the other in proper spaced relation'for the seaming operations of a rotary closing machine.

An object of the invention is to provide a feeding mechanism which is adapted to receive the filled cans promiscuously;- to space .the cans from each other, and to accelerate said cans so as to properly space the same for the seaming operations of a closing machine. 1

A further object of the invention is to tovide afeeding mechanism of the above 0 aracter, with a timing device which receives the cans promiscuously fed thereto, and

i Q "hich separates the cans. and feeds them one at a time into the feeding mechanismwhich delivers the 'cans to the closing machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a feeding mechanism of the above type having a rotating feed drum. with a spiral thread thereon for delivering the filled 7 cans to the closing machine with a rotating member having a plurality of spiral threads thereon, which receives the filled cans, separates one from-the other, and delivers said cans one at a time, to the feed drum. I

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above type with a'ro'tat-ing disk onto which the cans are fed, which disk is so positioned as to carry the cans laterally into engagement with a rotati'ng timing member, said rotating disk having acam ledge associated therewith which guides-the filled cans and directs the same so that they will be engaged by the timengages the bottom flange of the can. The

ing member.

'A still furtherobject of the invention is to provide a yielding guide arm which c0-' operates with said'cam ledge in placing the cans in proper position relative to the tim ing member.

These and other objects will in .part be obvious and will in part be hereinafter more fully disclosed. a

In the'drawings which show by way of i]- luf rtration one: embodiment of the inven- Figure 1 is a plan view showing more or less diagrammatically a closing machine in element,

having my improved .feeding mechanism applled thereto; Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the receiving end bf the feed drum and the means tion and partly in plan showing the double spiral timing element;

Fig. 5 is an end view of the timing element; and c Fig. 6 is a detail view showing in side elevation the manner of mounting the yielding guiding arm.

The invention is directed a feeding mechanism for fee ing filled cans to a closing machine. The closing machine as illustrated'is of the rotary type and is provided with a turret which receives the filled cans and delivers saidv filled cans to the seaming stations of the closing machine. Associated with the rotating turret is a feed drum which has a spiral thread wound thereon, and the filled cans are fed along a support by this spiral thread and are accelerated so that they are brought to the proper spacing of the half molds of the rotating turret so as to be taken up by the turret without (particularly to any sudden movements of the filled can s which might cause spilling of the contents thereof.

The filled cans are delivered; to a the rotating drum by the combined action of a rotating disk and spiral timing element. The spiral timing element is mounted to rotate about an axis parallel with the axisof the feed drum and is preferably so disposed as to engage the side of the can while the feed drum ,the timing element and thence move the cans along with the timing element. Associated with the rotating diskis a stationary cam ledge with which the cans make engagement, one fiat a time, and this ledge notionly lets the cans easil into the rotating spiraltimut also retards the cans and ai s in properly spacin the cans to be received by the timing element. Associated curved arm which cooperates with the roe with the stationary cam ledgeis a yielding ta'ting disk and the cam ledge so that the cans are fed, one at a. time, into the timing element. This rotary timing element as illustrated is driven at half the speed of the rotating drum and is provided with two spiral threads inter-related, so that first one and then the other delivers the cans to thefeeding drum. By this slow rotating movement of'the spiral timing element, I am able to bring about a proper placing of the can against the thread of the spiral element without any sudden jerks or movements of the cans.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, I have shown in Fig. 1, more or less diagrammatically, a closing machine indicated at 1, which is provided with fourclosing stations 2, 2', 2 and 2". It will be understood that the machine rotates. The filled can is received at the station 2 and while it is rotating around to the position. of the station 2", it Will be closed, and then delivered on to the rotating disk 3. theclosing machine is a rotating turret 4 which is formed with a plurality of half molds or, pockets 5 which are spaced the same distance as the seaming stations of the closing machine. This rotating turret also is provided with a cover feed 6. These parts are preferably of the construction shown in the Patent #1348550, granted August 3, 1920, to Kronquest & Taliaferro, and further detailed description thereof is not thought necessary.

The filled cans are delivered to the rotatring turret by a'- rotating drum 7. Said drum has a spiral thread 8' formed thereon and associated-vgjith the drum are supports i9), 9. A can is s id along the supports 9, 9

pockets of the turret. .'It will be noted that th1s spiral thread as clearly shown in the drawings has its pitch increased toward the delivery end of the drum, and this is for the purpose of'speeding up the filled cans and' properly spacing, the same so that they will be placed in the pockets of the rotating turret without any sudden jerks or jars.

drum is rotated by suitable connections to 13%? operating mechanism of the closing mac in a t The principal part of the invention is directed to the means for feeding the filled cans to therotating drum 7. At the receiv- Associated with the spiral thread and placed in, the- The and at the other end in a bracket 20. The

shaft of the feed drum 7 is extended beyond the gear 12 and is provided with a sprocket wheel 21 on this end. The shaft 22 of the spiral timing element is likewise provided with a sprocket wheel 23 and a sprocket chain 24 runs over the sprocket wheels 21 and23. Said sprocket chain also runs over an idler 25 mounted for adjustment on the frame of the machine so as to take up slack in the sprocket chain. Through this sprocket chain, the rotating timing element l8,is rotated from the mechanism which operates the feed drums.

The rotating timing element is in the form of a sleeve as shown in Fig. 4, and said sleeve is secured to the shaft 22 by means of a bolt or pin 30*. The sprocket wheel23 is secured by bolts 26 to a flange on the L There are curved slots in the.

shaft 22. sprocket w heel as shown in Fig. 3, and these bolts pass through the curved slots. Said slots are curved-about the center of the shaft 22 and thus provide a means whereby a slight adjustment of the sprocket wheel" The shaft of the spiral timing ele-p sprocket wheels are enclosed by a casing 27.

The rotary'timingelement 18 is provided with two spiral threads 28 and 29. Between the threads 28 and 29 there is a spiral recess and between the threads 29 and 28 there is another spiral recess, so that. the timing ele-' ment has two spiral. recesses or sets of spiral threads, first one of which becomes active to receive and feed a filled can and then the other. The spiral thread 8 on the. feeddruin at the receiving end thereof is spaced so that the distance from one thread to the other is the same as the distance between the spiral threads 28' and 29. The circumference of the sprocket wheel.23 is twice that of the sprocket wheel 21, and therefore, the rotating timing'element will travel at half the speed of the feed-drum, and therefore, first one spiral recess or spiral thread will place a can between the spiral threads on the feed drum, and then the' other spiral recess 'or spiral thread places a can between the threads on the feed drum. Associated with the rotating disk 10 is a fixed cam ledge 31. The receiving end 32 of this cam ledge is 10- cated at the outer periphery of the disk 10, while the delivery end 33 of the cam ledge is considerable distance in from the extreme edge of the disk 10. It will be noted therefore, that as the disk rotates, a can placed on the disk will be brought into'contact with this cam ledge as the cam face of said ledge is eccentric to the axis of rotation of the disk. Furthermore, it will be noted that the cam ledge will crowd a filled can in toward the center of the disk so that when a can first comes into contact with the cam ledge,

it is farther from the center of the disk than when it leaves said cam ledge. As a result, the can is retarded and travels comparatively slow when it comes in contact with the rotary timing element 18. Associated with this cam ledge is a yielding arm 34, the receiving end 35 of which is curved. Said arm is pivoted at 36 to a bracket 37. Said arm 34 is turned on its pivot and pressed toward the cam ledge by means of a weighted arm 38 (see Figures 2 and 6). This weighted arm 38 is pivoted at 39 to the bracket 37 and carries a weight 41 which is adjustable toward and from the pivot 39. The arm 38 bears against a projecting lug 42 formed integral with the swinging arm 34. An adjustable stop 43 carried b a perforated lug 44 mount= ed on the brac et 37 limits the outward movement of the swingingarm 34 through the action of the weighted arm 38-thereon. When said arm 34-is swung to its extreme outer position, the distance between the curved portion 35 thereof and the receiving end 32 of the cam ledge 31 is considerably greater than the diameter of a can. It will be noted that "the disk 10 has its center considerably at one side of the longitudinal axis of the. rotating spiral timing element, and

therefore, the cans are moved by said disk laterally' toward said timing element. As the disk travels the cans will come into contact with the curved ledge 31 and will be retarded thereby slightly; .This slows up the travel of the cans somewhat, and aids in the preliminary lining up of the cans for reception by the rotating timing element. When the can comes in contact with a spiral thread, if it engages said thread on the crown 28 or in rear thereof as viewed in Fig. 2, it will be retarded and forced back into the spiral recess in rear of the thread 28. The swinging arm 34 aids in this retarding and placing of the can in rear of the thread 28. If,

on the other hand, the crown of the thread engages a can back of the center point, then tates at half the speed of the feed drum and therefore, the can will be brought into contact therewith withcomparatively little jar for the reason of its slow movement, and for the further reason that the spiral thread engages the can by more or less of a wedging movement. After the can has been seated between the spiral threads on the rotating timing (element, it will of course, bemoved along by the combined action of said timing element and the rotating disk 10, and will be placed so as to be received between the adjacent threads on the rotating drum. As has already been stated, first one thread and then the other thread places a can between threads on the rotating drum, assuming of course,

that the cans are coming into the machine as fast as they tan be taken care of bythe rotating timing element. While the rotating timing element 18 rotates at half the speed of the feed drum, the thread on the timing element is twice the pitch of thethread on the feed drum so that a can really is advanced by the timing element at the same speed as it is received and fed along by the thread on the feeddrum. Inasmuch, however, as first one thread and then the other becomes effective for delivering the cans to the feed. drum, I have provided a timing mechanism which will receive the cans pro-' miscuously and with little or no jar or sudden movement of the cans, put them into line and properly space the same for the feed,

It will be noted=in 'Fig. 4 that a thread on the timing element. If the rounding crown of the thread on the timing element in combination with disk 10 does not force a can forward into the spiral recess in front of said thread, this arm 34 will give until the crown passes the can center, when the arm by its yielding motion gradually will move the can into the recess in rear of this thread.

By my improved timing mechanism, I am able to take cans romiscuously from one or more filling machines, properly time and deliver the same to the feeding mechanism of a single closing machine which is. provided with a plurality of closing stations.

a can will be moved forward by the-thread,-After thecans reach the receiving disk assoin combination with the disk 10 and by the swinging arm gradually forced into the spiral'recess in front of said thread 28, or the can may come intocontact with the rotating spiral timing element so as'to engage the spiral recess between the threads; This spiral timing element as above stated, ro-

ciated with the timing mechanism, they are moved continuously until they are closed and delivered from. the closing machine. The timing mechanism will receive the cans promiscuously and will space them and deliver them to the drum, and the drum will in turn accelerate the cans so as to increase the spacing to conform to the proper spacing of the seaming stations of the closing machine.

IVhile I have described the timing element as having two spiral threads for engaging and moving the cans, it will be understood from certain aspects of the invention that a single thread may be used, and particularly is this of use where the cans are relatively large in diameter. The rotating disk on which the cans are received, together with the stationary cam ledge and the yielding arm will insure that the cans will be'properly nested in the spiral recess of the timing element and delivered thereby between the threads on the rotating feed drum. It will also be understood that more than two threads may be used, if desired, in which case, of course, the rotating spiral element will have to be driven at a relatively Slower speed so as to deliver one can at a time between the threads of the drum. In other words, if three threads are used. on the timing element, the speed of the timing element must be as one to three compared with the speed of the feed drum.

lVhile I have shown my improved timing element as used in conjunction with the feed drum of a multiple closing machine, it will be understood, of course, that it may be equally used witlr advantage, in connection with a single station closing machine wherein they "cans are received one at a time and closed,

and then discharged from the machine. The

spiral feed drum rotates continuously and thcthrea'ls on the drum are so arranged at their delivery end as to feed the cans directly into the closing machine. A machine such as referred to is shown in the patent to Krummel & Taliaferro, #931,434, granted August lf, 1909. In this use of the timing element, the cans have to be delivered at spaced intervals. The threaded drum accomplishes this result, while the timing element takes the cans promiscuously and places them in proper spaced relation to be a received by the feed drum.

It is also obvious that the'timing element may be used in conjunction with other types of feeding mechanisms wherein the cans are moved in predetermined spaced relation to each other.

It is obvious that minor changes in the details of construction and the arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention asset forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what Iclaim as newand desire to secure by Let- Y i {ters-Patent, is-

teasers ing the cans on the disk intermediate the ends of the cans for spacing the cans and\ delivering the same to said feeding means, a cam ledge associated with said disk for directing the filled cans on the disk into the thread of the shaft and yielding means located on the other side of the cans from said cam ledge for directing one canat a time to said threaded shaft,

2. In a closing machine, the combination of means for feeding the filled cans in pre-. determined spaced relation, a, rotating disk onto which the'filled cans are fed at random, a rotating shaft located above said disk and having a spiral thread for engaging the cans on the disk intermediate the ends of the cans for spacing the cans and delivering the same to said feeding means, a camledge associated with said disk for directing the filled cans on the disk into the thread of the shaft, and yielding means located on the other side of the cans from said cam ledge for directing one can at a time to said threaded shaft, said can feeding means including a drum having a spiral thread thereon.

3. In a closing machine, the combination of means for feeding-the filled cans in redetermined spaced relation, a rotating isk onto which the filled cans are fed at random, a rotating shaft located above said disk and having a spiral thread for engaging the canson the disk intermediate the ends of the cans for spacing the cans and delivering the same to said feeding means,,a cam ledge associated with said disk for-directing the filled cans on the disk into the thread of the shaft, and yielding means located on the other side of I the closing machine, means for receiving the filled cans and delivering the same to the feeding means, including a timing screw having a plurality of spiral threads in which the distance between the centers of adjacent threads is that of the spacing ofthe cans at the receiving end of the feeding means, means for rotating said deliverin member so that first one spiral thread and then another becomes eifective for deliverin a can to the feeding means, a rotating dis associated with said rotating member for movin the filled cans laterally into engagement with said rotating member, and a stationary cam ledge associated with the disk a ainst which the cans are carried by the dis and.

by the aid, of which the, cans are directed I, i into the timing screw, said cam ledge being shaped so as to move the cans on the disk toward the center thereof as they are directedz-into the timing screw so as to slowdown the cans and gradually lead. the cans to travel in a direction parallelto the timing screw and thus avoid any jar or jerking of thecan as it comes into engagement with aha threads on the rotating element.

5. A; closing machine including in combination a-rotating drum having a thread thereon for delivering the filled cans in proper spaced relation to each other to the i closing mechanism, means for receiving and delivering the cans tosaid drum including a rotating multiple-thread timing element in which the space between adjacent threads is substantially the same as the space be,-

tween the adjacentthreads on the drum at the receiving end thereof, and means for rotating said timing element so that first one thread and then another becomes eflective for delivering a can to the threaded drum.

6. A closing machine including 1n combination, a rotating drum having a thread thereon for delivering the filled cans in proper-spaced relation to each other to the closing mechanism, means for receiving and dellverlng the cans to said drum lncludlng a rotating multiple thread timing element in which the space between adjacent threads is .substantially the same as the space between the adjacent threads on the drum at the receiving end thereof, means for rotating said timing element so that first one 5 thread and then another becomesvefi'ective for delivering a can to the threaded drum, and a rotating disk associated with the timing elementand disposed so as to support the cans and to deliver the cans by the lateral movement thereof to the timing element.

7. A closing machine including in .combination, a rotating drum having a thread Qthereon for delivering the filled cans in proper spaced relation to each other to the of to the timing element; and a cam iedge associated with said disk for directing the cans 'into. the timing element and for retarding the same so as toinsu're that only one can at a time will be received by the timing element.

SKA closing machine'including in combingtion, a rotating drum having a thread thereon for delivering the filled cans in proper spaced relation to each other to the closing mechanism, means for receiving and delivering the cans to said drum including a rotating multiple thread timing element in which the space. between adjacent threads is substantially the same as the space between the adjacent threads on the drum at the receiving end thereof, means for rotating said timing element so that first one thread andthenanother becomes effective.

for delivering a can to the threaded drum, a rotating disk associated with the timing element and disposed so as to support the cans and to deliver the cans by the lateral movement thereof to the timing element, a cam ledge associated with said disk for directing the cans into the timing elemen'trand for retarding the same so as to insure that only one can at a time will be received by the timing element, and a yielding curved arm disposed on the other side of the path of travel of the cans from the cam ledge for aiding in positioning the cans in the timing element.

9. In a closing machine, the combination of means for feeding. cans in a predetermined spaced relation to the closing mechanism, of means for receiving and delivering the filled cans to the feeding means including a rotating multiple thread timing-element in which the distance between adjacent threads is similar .to the spacing of the cans at the receiving end of the feeding mechanism, means for rotating said .timing element so that first one thread and then another becomes effective for delivering a can, the space between adjacent threads being curved to conform substantially to the transverse curvature of the filled cans, and the crown of each thread being convexed 'in cross section so as to aid in the placing of the cans between the threads.

10. In a closing machine, the combination of means for feeding cans in a predetermined spaced relation to the closing mechanism; of means for receiving and delivering the filled cans to the feeding means including a rotating multiple thread timing element in which the distance between adjacent threads is similar to the spacing of the cans at the receiving end of the feeding mechanism, means for rotating said timing element so that first one thread and then another becomesefi'ective for delivering a can, the space between adjacent threads being curved to conform substantially to the transverse curvature of the filled cans, the crown of each thread being convexed in cross section so as to aid inthe placing of the cans between the threads, a rotating disk for receiving the filled cans and for movmg the same laterall toward the timing element-and thence a ong with the timing 1 m a s ationary cam ledge disposed so ward or rearwardly, depending u on the point ofengagement of the threa the space between the threads on the timing of the can.

11. In a closing machine, the combination of a feeding means for feeding the cans in spaced relation to each other to the closing mechanism, a rotating timing element having a plurality of threads in which the space between adjacent threads is similar to the spacing of the cans at the receiving end of the feeding means, a rotating disk on which the cans are supported at random, a curved ledge associated with the disk for retarding the cans so that they are delivered one at a time to the'rotating timing element, said timing element being disposed in a plane above the rotating disk so as to engage the cans intermediate the ends thereof.

12. In a closing machine, the combination of a feeding means for feeding the cans in spaced relation to each other to the closing mechanism, a rotating timing element having a plurality of threads in which the space between adjacent threads is similar to the spacing of the cans at the receiving end of the feeding means, a rotating disk on which the cans are supported at random, a curved ledge associated with the disk for retarding the cans so that they are delivered one at a t me to ,the rotating timing element, said timing element being disposed in a plane above the rotating disk so as to engage the cans antermediate the ends thereof, and a yleld ng curved arm suspended over said rotating disk for bringing the cans against the curved ledge and rotating timing element.

13. In a closing machine, the combination of a feeding means for feeding the cans in spaced relation to each other to the closing mechan1sm, a rotating timing element having a plurality of threads in which the space between adjacent threads is similar to the spacing of the cans at the receiving end' of the feeding means, a rotating disk on which the cans are supported at random, a curved ledge associated with the disk for retarding the cans so that they are deliveredone at a time to the rotating timing element, said timing element bein disposed in a plane above the rotating isk so as to engage the cans intermediate the ends thereof,

element being curved in a horizontal section so as to correspond substantially to the curvature of the cans being delivered to the feeding means.

14. In a closing machine, the combination of means for. feeding the cans in spaced relation to the closing mechanism, comprising a rotating drum having a spiral thread thereon sha ed so as to receive the cans in a predetermined spacedrelation and for delivering the cans to the closing machine in proper spaced relation for the seaming stations, and means for receiving and delivering the cans to said drum including at-rotating timing cans and moving ,the same laterally into engagement with the timing element and insuring that the cans will be placed between i the threads of the timing element whereby said cans are properly spaced for delivery to the feeding drum.

15. In a closing machine the combination of a rotating drum having spiral threads, a

rotating disk onto which the filled cans are fed at random associated with said drum, a rotatin shaft having a spiral thread located a ove said disk for engaging the filled cans intermediate the ends of the filled cans and spacing and delivering the filled cans from said disk onto said threaded drum, a cam ledge associated with said rotating shaft having the spiral threads, said threads and said shaft being so disposed relative to the' ledge that the disk carries the cans against said ledge and along the ledge into contact with the spiral thread on the rotating shaft, said spiral tln'ead on the rotating shaft operating to space the cans and to convey the cans from the disk onto the rotating drum.

16. In a closing machine, the combination of a rotating drum having a spiral thread thereon, a rotating disk for receiving the cans at random, a rotating shaft having a sleeve 'rovided with a spiral thread .disposed a ove said disk, said shaft-having its axis substantially parallel with the axis of the rotating drum. a stationary cam extending over said rotating disk for aiding said threaded shaft and said disk to receive the cans at random and deliver the same, one at atime, to the threaded drum.

In testimony whereof, I- affix my signature.

MATTHEW M. SEQWICK. 

